CONSTITUTION 


OF  THE 

UNITED  BRETHREN'S 

GF 


SAl»Elt : 

TOINTEB  BT  BLtJJI  &  SON. 

1837. 


PREAMBiiE 


Whereas  we,  as  members  of  the  Unilas  Fralrum,  regard  it 
as  OUT  Christian  duty,  in  conformity  with  the  spirit  and  design 
of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren,  to  exert  ourselves  in 
promoting  th©  spread  of  the  saving  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ  amongst  our  feilow-creatures, — especially 
in  those  districts  of  our  country,  which  appear  to  be  particu- 
larly destitute  of  Christian  instruction, — and 

Whereas  we  feel  ourselves  abundantly  encouraged  by  tiie 
successful  endeavors  of  our  Brethren  in  other  parts  of  the 
world,  to  benefit  our  Christian  fellow-sinners  by  sending  unto 
them  devoted  and  experienced  persons,  in  order  to  instruct 
and  exhort,  advise  and  direct  them  ; — that,.under  the  blessing 
of  God,  by  the  instrumentality  of  such  friendly  messengers  of 
salvation,  the  ignorant  may  he  taught^ — the  careless  roused^— 
inquirers  directed^ — the  wavering  established  and  strengthened^— 
believers  encouraged  and  confirmed^  in  the  most  simple,  unob- 
trusive and  evangelical  manner,  in  imitation  of  Him,  who 
went  about  doing  good,  and  seeking  that  which  is  lost  f 
therefore  we,  the  subscribers,  have  resolved,  in  the  name  of 
God,  for  the  attainment  of  the  above  specified  objects  to  form 
a  Society  under  the  name  of 

The  United  Br  ethren\'i  Home-Mission  Society  of  J^^orih  Carolina; 
and  do  herewith  agree  to  the  following  articles  of  the  Consti- 
tution of  said  Society,  viz  : 

ARTICLE  1. 

This  Society,  consisting  of  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren's Church,  shall  have  its  fixed  seat  at  Salem,  Stokes  Coun- 
ty, North  Carohna,  where  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet, 
and  the  general  meetings  of  the  Society  be  held. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Members  of  the  United  Brethren's  Church  alone  have  seat 
and  vote  in  the  Society  as  actual  members;  minors,  if  even 
members  of  our  Church,  have  no  vote. 

Individuals  of  other  religious  denommations,  interested  in 
the  object  of  our  association,  can  be  received  as  honorary 
members  of  this  Society. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Society  consist  1,  Of  perma* 
ntnt  Directors,  or  those  brethren,  who  are  entrusted  with  the 
swperintendence  of  our  Congregations  and  missions  in  North 


3 


Carolina  and  adjacent  parts,  and  2,  Of  five  brethren  as  assist- 
ml  Directors^  who  are  annually  chosen,  in  a  general  meetino^, 
by  a  plurality  of  the  votes  of  the  members  present,  from  the 
luiniber  ot  the  actual  members. 

The  current  business  of  the  Society  is  to  hQ  jointly  transac- 
ted by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

The  power  to  appoint  and  instruct  the  missionary  or  mis- 
sionaries of  the  Society  remains,  however,  in  the  hands  of  the 
-  permanent  directors,  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of 
the  Brethren's  Church. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Two  semi-annual  general  meetings  of  toe  Society  shall  be 
held  in  each  year;  the  first  on  Whit-monday,  the  latter  on  the 
last  Thursday  in  November. 

The  President  may,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  ihfj 
Directors,  call  Extra  meetings,  if  the  concerns  oi'ihe  Society 
should  require  it.  He  can  likewise,  if  necessary,  appoint,  with 
the  consent  of  the  Board,  a  day,  different  from  the  time  spe- 
cified above  for  either  of  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Society,— 
timely  notice  thereof  being  in  such  case  given  to  ail  the  mem- 
bers. 

ARTICLE  V, 

In  the  second  semi-annual  meeting  the  Society  shall  by  n 
plurality  of  votes  of  the  members  present,  choose  a  President 
from  among  the  permanent  Directors, 

In  case  of  absence  of  the  President,  or  his  inability  to  at- 
tend, the  Directors  shall  appoint  a  Presldentpro  tempore. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Besides  the  above  assistant  Directors,  a  Secretary  and  a 
Treasurer  shall  in  a  Jike  manner  be  chosen  from  among  the 
actual  members  of  the  Society  ;  both  of  whom  shall,  by  vir- 
tue of  their  offices,  become  Directors  for  the  duration  of  their 
respective  offices, 

ARTICLE  ViL 

A  collection  in  support  of  the  funds  of  the  Society  shall  be 
rnade  at  each  semi-annual  meeting,  every  member  contribu- 
ting  according  to  his  ability  or  inclination, 

ARTICLE  VIIL 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall,  at  every  ^/r^/ed  general  meet- 
ing, submit  a  report  of  their  transactions,  of  the  labors  of  the 
3   missionary  or  missionaries^  and  in  general,  of  every  thing  rela- 
^  ting  to  the  concerns  of  this  Society, 


-  The  Treasurer  shall,  at  the  second  semi-annual  me6i\ng4 
render  a  regular  and  correct  account  ot  all  the  receipts  and 
disbursements  of  the  Society,  as  well  as  of  the  state  of  its  funds 
generally. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

All  contributions,  donations  and  bequests  to  the  Society, 
shall,  at  all  times,  and  forever,  be  and  remain  appropriated^ 
secured,  placed  at  interest,  or  made  use  of  and  expended,  50/e- 
ly  for  promoting  the  object  of  this  Society  under  the  control  of 
the  B©ard  of  Directors;  and  we  all,  and  every  one  of  us,  ex- 
pressly renounce  lorever,  all  demands  and  claims  for  salarie^^ 
or  rewards  for  any  personal  services,  which  we  may,  at  any 
lime,  or  in  any  manner,  perform  in  behalf  of  the  Society  ;  pro- 
vided nevertheless,  that  all  and  every  contingent  expense,  as 
^hali  be  necessarily  incurred  by  the  Board  ot  Directors  aad 
officers  aforesaid,  or  any  of  them  ;  or  any  member,  on  behalf 
of  the  Society,  shall,  at  all  times,  be  defrayed  or  reimbursed 
from  the  funds  of  the  Society. 

The  expenses  and  necessities  of  the  missionary  are  to  be  pro- 
vided for  by  the  board  of  directors  from  the  funds  of  the  society, 

ARTICLE  X. 

All  persons  desirous  of  becoming  members  of  this  Society, 
should  notify  the  Board  by  one  of  its  members  thereof,  previ- 
ous to  a  general  meetiing  ;  whereupon  the  Directors  shall  name 
them  to  the  Society  ;  and  the  individuals  applying,  become 
snembers  by  subscribing  the  constitution.  No  one  is  entitled 
to  a  vote  before  having  subscribed  the  constitution. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

Circtimstances  requiring  it,  the  Society  may  in  future  amend 
or  alter  Ihese  articles,  or  adopt  new  articles  and  regulations ; 
provided  however,  that  such  amendments  or  new  articles  be 
not  contrary  to  the  design  and  spirit  of  this  Constitution,  or  to 
iho  rules  and  regulations  ot  the  Brethren's  Church.  Such  a- 
mendments  and  alterations  shall,  therefore,  be  adopted  only 
after  the  most  mature  deliberation,  and  with  the  approbation 
of  at  least  two  thirds  of  the  members  present  at  a  general 
meeting.  And  in  order  to  promote  the  most  mature  delibera- 
tion of  the  amendments  or  alterations  proposed  to  be  introdu- 
ced, it  shall  be  a  f»ermanent  rule,  that  no  amendments  or  al- 
terations can  be  adopted  in  the  same  meeting  in  which  they 
originated,  but  they  shall  not  be  decided  before  the  next  gen- 
eral meeting.  Two  thirds  of  the  members  present  in  the  lat- 
ter, voting  in  favor  of  the  proposed  amendment  or  amendments, 
they  shall  be  considered  as  having  been  adopted  by  the  Society, 


